☼  Highlights for Adventures in Greece and Italy

★ Experience an in-depth guided tour of the historic Acropolis in Athens
★ Enjoy the lovely ferry rides between the islands
★ Experience the Roman Colosseum and Roman Forum at your leisure, with a special timed entry, ticket included
★ Stroll along the picturesque waterfront in Mykonos
★ Take part in walking tours of Florence and Venice
★ Opt for visits to the ancient archaeological sites of Sounion, Delos, and Akrotiri
★ Witness the famous blue domes of Santorini
★ Relish a guided sunset excursion to Oia, at the northern tip of Santorini

  What’s Included for Adventures in Greece and Italy (Value) 

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   ACCOMMODATION       16 nights of accommodation at good, well placed hotels.  All hotel taxes are included.

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   TRANSPORTATION       Ferry rides between islands.  All taxi transfers to and from ferry ports.  A flight from Santorini back to Athens.   High speed train rides between listed destinations in Italy.   Please note that an additional taxi ride to the Athens airport, a one-way flight from Athens to Rome (on 6/14/23) and a taxi ride from the Rome airport to your hotel are all included!

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   MEALS      13 meals:  11 breakfasts, 2 dinner

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   EXCURSIONS AND ENTRANCE FEES       Guided tour of the ancient Acropolis in Athens, including entrance fees.     Semi-guided visits to the Mykonos waterfront and the town of Oia in Santorini.  Timed entry to Colosseum and Roman Forum.  Guided tours of Florence and Venice.  Optional excursions to Sounion, Delos, and Akrotiri archaeological sites.  Optional visits to the Vatican Museums, the historical center of Pisa, and the Galleria dell Accademia in Florence.  

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   TOUR LEADER       A Blue Onyx Tour Leader to handle all logistical aspects of the group, offer valuable information, and guide your group from start to finish.

DAY 1:  ARRIVAL IN ATHENS
Arrive at your centrally located Athens hotel.  At 7 p.m., your tour group will meet in the lobby of the hotel with your Tour Leader where there will be a brief orientation, followed by an optional welcome dinner at a local restaurant.

    ACCOMMODATION:   Hotel Arethusa (3 nights)

DAY 2:   TOUR OF ACROPOLIS, FREE TIME
Your group will meet in the lobby in mid morning and proceed on foot to the historic Acropolis where a Local Expert will lead you on a guided tour of the Parthenon, the Erechtheion, the Temple of Athena Nike, and other sections.  After the tour, you’ll have time to dabble in local cuisine, shop in the trendy Monastiraki district, or navigate the ancient cobblestone streets of our favorite section of Athens: The Plaka.

  MEAL:  Breakfast       

DAY 3:   FREE DAY IN ATHENS, OPTIONAL TRIP TO SOUNION
There’s a wealth of things to do in Athens and the great thing is that your hotel is right in the middle of everything!  Perhaps check out the impressive remains of the Temple of Olympian Zeus or the Temple of Hephaestus.   Or view the treasury of ancient art and artifacts at the National Archaeological Museum of Athens.  Or just wander around the city and indulge in its unique atmosphere and enjoy its excellent cuisine.

In the afternoon, there will be an optional visit to the Temple of Poseidon at Sounion to do some sightseeing and watch the sunset.  Bonus points to the person who can spot the “world’s first graffiti.”  The visit will include the entrance fee along with a light dinner (sandwich with dessert and beverage).

OPTIONAL EXCURSION: Guided visit to Sounion, including entry fee – $65 per person.

  MEAL:  Breakfast  (and a light Dinner, if one partakes in the optional excursion to Sounion)

DAY 4:  FERRY TO MYKONOS, WATERFRONT EXCURSION, FREE TIME
You’ll catch your morning ferry to Mykonos, arriving in the early afternoon.  After checking into your hotel, your Tour Leader will lead you to the waterfront of the main town.  One thing to keep in mind:  cars are not allowed in our hotel’s neighborhood, so there will be a short walk from the taxi transfer point to the hotel.  After a brief orientation, the rest of the day is yours to explore this glittering gem of the Cyclades.  Take a gander at the historic Panagia Paraportiani church, get lost in the seemingly endless narrow footpaths of the main town, enjoy a photo op at the windmills, or ask your Tour Leader about his favorite cafe!

  MEAL:  Breakfast         ACCOMMODATION:  Ioanna’s House (2 nights)

DAY 5:  FREE TIME, OPTIONAL EXCURSION TO DELOS
Continue to explore Mykonos on your own in the morning.  Around noon your Tour Leader will take you to a tranquil mystery destination to have an optional leisurely lunch.   In the afternoon, you have the option to meet with a Local Expert who will lead you on a ferry ride to the nearby isle of Delos and direct an in-depth tour of this highly significant historical and archaeological site.  The tour includes a sandwich with beverage and small dessert.

  MEAL:  Light Dinner if you opt for the Delos excursion.

OPTIONAL EXCURSION:  Guided tour of Delos, including ferry rides, entry ticket, and a light dinner – $75 per person.

DAY 6:   FERRY TO SANTORINI, EXCURSION TO OIA
In the morning, you’ll board a high-speed ferry to the island of Santorini, which is actually a mostly submerged dormant volcano.  After hotel check-in and free time, a minibus will transport your group to the kaleidoscopic town of Oia for a semi-guided exploration and to watch the sunset.

   ACCOMMODATION:    Hotel Babis  (2 nights)  

DAY 7:   OPTIONAL TOUR OF AKROTIRI, FREE TIME, FAREWELL DINNER
In the morning, you have the option of joining the Tour Leader for a guided visit to the ancient archaeological site of Akrotiri at the southern tip of the island.  At the end of the tour, there will be an included lunch at a beachside restaurant. 

Feel free to spend the rest of the afternoon at leisure, perusing shops and cafes, snapping photos of the breathtaking cliffs, and ambling through the many museums and galleries.  Consider a trip to the Venetian Castle at Emporio.  Gaze at the black sand beaches of Perissa.  Or indulge in a nice seaside dinner at Kamari. 

In the evening, your Tour Leader will direct the group to a local restaurant for your Santorini dinner.  

  MEAL:  Breakfast, Dinner (and Lunch, if one partakes in the Akrotiri excursion.)

OPTIONAL EXCURSION:  Guided tour of Akrotiri, including entrance fee, round-trip transportation (via public coach), and beachside lunch – $70 per person.

DAY 8:  DEPART SANTORINI FOR ATHENS – FREE DAY IN ATHENS
You’ll check out of your Santorini hotel early to catch your flight back to the Athens International Airport.  From there, journey to your included free 3-night accommodation in Athens.  Please note that the transportation from the Athens airport to your Athens hotel is not included.  

  MEAL:  Breakfast         ACCOMMODATION:  Hotel Economy (3 nights)

DAY 9:  FREE DAY IN ATHENS
Your Tour Leader will be on hand to offer advice regarding activities in bustling Athens.   Perhaps a climb to the top of Mount Lycabettus is in order.  Or perhaps it’s time to visit the extraordinary Temple of Hephaestus.  Or just wander around the Plaka.  

  MEAL:  Breakfast

DAY 10:  FREE DAY IN ATHENS
It’s your final day in Athens.

  MEAL:  Breakfast    

DAY 11:  ARRIVE IN ROME
Your included taxi ride will take you to the Athens airport where you will catch your flight to Rome.   Once there, a taxi will take you to your hotel in central Rome.  Meet in the hotel lobby at 7 p.m. where there will be a brief orientation with your Tour Leader.  Proceed to your optional Welcome Dinner at a lovely Roman restaurant.

   ACCOMMODATION:   Casa San Giuseppe (2 nights)

DAY 12:   TIMED ENTRY TO COLOSSEUM AND ROMAN FORUM, OPTIONAL TIMED ENTRY TO THE VATICAN MUSEUMS/SISTINE CHAPEL
Constructed of travertine, tuff, and concrete, the monumental Roman Colosseum, also known as the Flavian Ampitheatre, took just eight years to complete.  This morning, your tour leader will guide your group on foot from your hotel to see this major architectural work which still wows visitors from around the globe.  Afterwards, you will be able to look around the Roman Forum, the epicenter of political and cultural life in ancient Rome.   In the afternoon, you will have the option to visit the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel with a special timed entry.

OPTIONAL EXCURSION:  Timed entry to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel (subway ride included both ways) – $40 per person

  MEAL:  Breakfast

DAY 13:  TRAIN TRIP TO FLORENCE, GUIDED TOUR
Today, you will enjoy a high speed train trip to Florence, the core of the Italian Renaissance.  After checking into your hotel, you will experience a walking tour of Florence’s famous piazzas and walkways, led by a Local Expert.

OPTIONAL EXCURSION:  Timed entry to the Galleria dell Accademia to see Michelangelo’s masterpiece of sculpture, David – $25 per person

  MEAL:  Breakfast          ACCOMMODATION:   Hotel Bodoni (2 nights)

DAY 14:   FREE DAY IN FLORENCE AND/OR JOURNEY TO PISA
In the morning, you’ll have the option to visit the famous Square of Miracles in central Pisa along with its outsized cathedral and famously leaning belltower.  Should you decide to partake in this optional excursion, you will still have plenty of time to explore Florence as this excursion will have you back in Florence around 2 p.m.

OPTIONAL EXCURSION:  Train trip to Pisa to see its historical center – $65 per person.  Included are round-trip train tickets between Florence and Pisa, and a timed entry to all sections of the Pisa Cathedral, including the Leaning Tower.  Please note that there will be quite a bit of walking.

  MEAL:  Breakfast

DAY 15:   ARRIVAL IN VENICE, WALKING TOUR
Today, you will arrive in the vibrant, canal-filled city of Venice.  After hotel check-in, you’ll enjoy an in-depth walking tour of this incredibly vivid locale, led by a Local Expert.  The rest of the day is yours to get lost in Venice’s myriad walkways, alleys, and piazzas.  Don’t miss a visit inside St. Mark’s Basilica with its astonishing gold mosaics.

  MEAL:  Breakfast         ACCOMMODATION:   Hotel Villa Rosa (2 nights)

DAY 16:  FREE DAY IN VENICE, FAREWELL DINNER
The day is yours to continue to explore this wondrous city of waterways.  Perhaps a boat trip to the nearby island of Murano to watch authentic glassblowing is in order.  At 6 p.m. your group will meet in the lobby of our hotel where your Tour Leader will direct you to a lovely three-course farewell dinner.

  MEALS:  Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 17:   TRAIN TO ROME, END OF TOUR
Today, your group will be departing Venice to catch the train back to Rome Termini station.  From there, you have the option of going to the airport or extending your vacation.   The great thing is that you will get to pick and choose whatever time frame you want for your included train trip.  Keep in mind, however, that it’s unlikely that you will be able to reach Termini station before 10 a.m., no matter how early you depart Venice.   In any case, we sincerely hope you enjoyed your tour of Greece and Italy!  Arrividerci! 

  MEAL:  Breakfast

June 4 – 20, 2023 (Sun – Tues)                           
$1,995
 Book Now (Value)     

   Optional Excursions for Adventures in Greece and Italy

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DAY 3: 

Optional Excursion #1:  Optional visit to the Temple of Poseidon at Sounion

Make an visit in the early evening (including round-trip private transportation, the entry fee to the archaeological site, and a small meal consisting of a sandwich, dessert, bottled water, and fruit juice) to the highly photogenic Temple of Poseidon at Sounion about an hour south of Athens.  Stay to watch the sunset (Price: $65 per person).

DAY 5: 

Optional Excursion #2:  Guided Tour of Delos Archaeological Site, including ferry rides.

Delos is a small island near Mykonos and a UNESCO World Heritage Site which contains a variety of significant ancient sites, including the House of Dionysus, the Temple of Hera, and the Synagogue of Delos – one of the world’s oldest synagogues. (Price: $75 per person). 

DAY 7: 

Optional Excursion #3:  Guided tour of Akrotiri Archaeological Site with beachside lunch.

Akrotiri is the location of an ancient town on the southern end of Santorini island which was buried by a volcanic eruption in the 16th century BC.  This excursion includes round-trip transportation (via public coach), a fully guided tour of the Akrotiri site, entry fee included, and a three-course beachside lunch  (Price: $70 per person).

DAY 12:   Optional Excursion:  Timed Visit to Vatican Museums/Sistine Chapel

Enjoy a special timed entry to the Vatican Museums without having to wait in line for hours on end.  Behold masterworks by Michelangelo, Perugino, Botticelli, Rafael, and others at your own pace.   (Price: $40 per person).

DAY 13:  Optional Excursion:  See Michelangelo’s David

Receive a timed entry to the Galleria dell Accademia museum to see Michelangelo’s masterpiece of sculpture, David  (Price: $25 per person)

DAY 14:  Optional Excursion:  Half Day Trip to Pisa

Train trip to Pisa to see its historical center.  Included are round-trip train tickets between Florence and Pisa, and a timed entry to all sections of the Pisa Cathedral, including the Leaning Tower.  Please note that there will be quite a bit of walking. (Price: $65 per person).

*Please note that optional excursions must be reserved well ahead of time.  Payment is expected on the first day of the tour.  Contact us about reserving your spot on an optional excursion.

THE WEATHER
Like most Mediterranean places, Greece tends to have long, warm summers and cool, moderate winters.  In the summer months, highs generally range from the mid 80’s to the low 90’s and the lows reach the upper 60’s.  There’s is plenty of sun and little rainfall in the summer months.

BUGS AND PESTS
Depending on who you talk to, you’ll hear very different versions of the mosquito situation in Greece.  Based on our own experiences in Greece, we can tell you two things that we believe: 1. Mosquitoes tend to be more of a problem on the mainland than on the islands.  2. The mosquito problem begins in June, peaking in July or August, and abating in September.

Some hotels in Greece have insect repellent plug-ins that look like air fresheners.  Be sure to ask the front desk of your hotel to see if they can supply you with a plug-in.  You may want to bring some insect repellent with you. We also recommend that you keep your hotel room windows closed at night and leave the air conditioning on.  Mosquitoes don’t like air conditioning.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY OF TOUR
On a scale of 1 to 10, the level of physical activity of this tour is 6, which is moderate.  Several days will incur a great deal of walking, and there will be some steep stairs to ascend, such as on the slopes of the Acropolis and other places.  The nice thing, though, is that the physical demands of the trip diminish toward the end.

IMPORTANT SUGGESTIONS
We urge our guests to use common sense on our tours.  Be wary of strangers offering you something or trying to sell you something.  Keep guard of your important belongings, such as purse, wallet, keys, and cell phone.  Pickpocketing is a problem in Athens, and pickpockets there are wily.  A common scam that occurs is where one person will walk up to you, pretending to ask directions, while his or her partner in crime will slip past you from another direction entirely, casually taking your wallet or cell phone.  Be aware of your belongings at all times.

We also urge our guests to use extra caution while crossing the street in Athens.  Walk defensively and look in every direction before crossing. Don’t walk distracted.

WHAT TO BRING
We urge our guests to pack light.  As previously stated under our Terms and Conditions, all of our guests are allowed one carry-on measuring 45 linear inches (22 x 14 x 9).  For this trip, the carry-on must weigh no more than 8 KG (17.5 pounds) due to restrictions on the flight from Santorini to Athens.  You are also allowed a small personal item, such as a small laptop bag or purse.  Your small personal item must be able to fit under an airplane seat.  We strongly recommend bringing travel size toiletries. We recommend bringing sunscreen and possibly insect repellent.

JOURNEYS BETWEEN DESTINATIONS
Some of journeys between destinations on this trip tend to be longer than on other trips.  The ferry ride from Athens to Mykonos is about four hours. The ferry ride from Santorini to Athens runs about 8 hours.  However, it’s an open secret that we love longer ferry rides in Greece.

OUR HOTELS
We always book hotels that are centrally located, highly rated, and close to major attractions.  Having said that, there are a couple of things that one should understand about hotels in Europe, especially if one is from the United States.  More often than not, hotel rooms in Europe are smaller than hotel rooms in the United States. Additionally, hotel rooms in Europe may not have the same amenities that our American guests may be used to seeing.  For example, some hotels in Europe do not have an elevator.  

On the other hand, for our American guests who are traveling to Europe for the first time, the breakfasts that are offered at European hotels are a huge breath of fresh air.  There is usually an abundance of protein sources in the form of cold cuts, cheeses, eggs, milk, and yogurt, along with an assortment of fresh fruit, pastries, cereal, fruit juice, tea, and coffee.  Occasionally, some European hotels will serve a hot breakfast as well and this often consists of scrambled eggs, bacon or sausage, and pancakes or waffles.

OUR RESTAURANTS
We strive to treat our guests to lunches and dinners at restaurants with interesting settings and this tour is no exception to that concept.  Whether it be right off the beach in Santorini, overlooking the marina in Mykonos, or at a lovely, elegant restaurant in the heart of Ios, Blue Onyx Travel will always seek out compelling venues for your included meals.

CURRENCY EXCHANGE AND CREDIT CARD USAGE
The Tour Leader will be able to tell you where to exchange currency and there will usually be a place to do so within walking distance of your hotel.  Most major banks will be able to exchange any currency that you have brought with you, for a small fee.

In most European countries (Greece included), the best exchange rate can be obtained by simply withdrawing money from a standard bank ATM using your debit card (not to be confused with your credit card).  For instance, let’s say it’s your second day in Athens and you need withdraw some euros. Just go to a local bank which has an ATM machine (often in a small, enclosed lobby-style room) and withdraw the amount of money you want.  Nearly all standard ATM machines worldwide have the capacity to issue instructions in English, so English speakers should have no problem at all understanding how to use them.

When we tell you to seek out standard bank ATM machines, we mean it.  Avoid the omnipresent stand-alone ATMs which are not part of a bank. Euronet, Moneybox, Travelex, and Cashzone are examples of independent ATM machines which have very unfavorable exchange rates.  If you have any questions at all while on tour, just ask your Tour Leader to point you the direction of a standard bank ATM. Now it’s true that your home-based bank, such as Wells Fargo, will charge a small fee ($5) for this transaction, but the European bank will not.

But wait, why don’t I just use my credit card for all my purchases, you may ask?  That’s okay, but there’s usually a 3% foreign transaction fee (or higher) for these types of transactions.  And there might even be an additional transaction fee from the store or restaurant in which you’re using your VISA card.  Dollar for dollar, withdrawing cash from a standard bank ATM is the most cost-effective way to exchange currency.

THE TOUR LEADER
All of our Tour Leaders must undergo a rigorous training course designed to help them handle not only the ups and downs of a tour group situation, but also the disparate personalities that they might encounter.  All of our Tour Leaders are thoroughly background checked and must adhere to a strict code of conduct at all times. You can rest assured that we are placing you with a Tour Leader who has your best interests at heart.